Non-English Speakers

These fact sheets have been written to explain the role of UK health services, the National Health Service (NHS), to newly-arrived individuals seeking asylum. They cover issues such as the role of GPs, their function as gatekeepers to the health services, how to register and how to access emergency services.

Special care has been taken to ensure that information is given in clear language, and the content and style has been tested with user groups.

Registering at the Practice

We welcome new patients living within our practice boundary, this area is from the railway line in the west, to Coldhams Lane in the north, to Cherry Hinton Road in the south and to Cherry Hinton village in the east which includes our branch surgery premises. We only take patients that live within our boundary area and if you do not you will be asked to register with a practice closer to your home. *Please see our registration policy. There is a link at the bottom of this page to NHS Choices website where information can be found regarding any practices that cover your home address.

1. All new patients will be asked to complete a registration form and to provide their NHS number if appropriate and proof of identity (e.g.passport, driving licence), accompanied also by proof of residency (e.g.utility bill, bank statement). We will also ask you to fill out a New Patient Questionnaire, which gives us a brief history and helps us with your care until your medical records are sent on from your previous GP practice.

2. New Born Babies will also need a registration form completing; even though we may have received the hospital discharge letter with details of their birth and new NHS number, we usually register at the 6 week check but it can be completed earlier if desired.

In line with the current government initiative and to comply with our NHS contract all patients are now allocated a named accountable GP. Newly registered patients will be allocated a named GP on registration. You will be registered with Dr Peter Niemczuk, but please note that this does not mean that you cannot see the GP of your choice and you can still book appointments with all GP's.

3. Children under 6 - it is important that childhood vaccinations are not missed and it is helpful if you can bring along your child's Health Development Record (Red Book) for us to make a copy of the vaccination pages.

4. Overseas Patients patient's from overseas will be required to answer supplementary questions to help determine an overseas patients' eligibility to free NHS secondary healthcare. Whilst you can register with this GP practice as an NHS patient and see the GP without charge, you should be aware that not every person is entitled to all their NHS care free of charge in England. Generally NHS care is free for those: Ordinarily resident in the UK (this means living in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis for the time being. You will be asked to prove this); insured by an EEA member state (e.g. with a valid EHIC or S1 form); covered under the immigration Health Charge; Excempt from law - e.g. refugees.

5.Patients visiting Cambridge from another area of the United Kingdom/European Union or those countries with a recipricol agreement with the United Kingdon for a period no longer than 6 months may receive emergency treatment as temporary residents at the practice. You will be asked to complete a form for this. This should only be for the treament of any ailments that have occurred whilst staying in the area and is not for the treatment of chronic and longstanding conditions. Referrals to secondary care ie; hospital is only for emergency cases and your hospital spell will be investigated by the Paying Patients Team.

NEW PATIENT REGISTRATION POLICY

NEW PATIENT ACCEPTANCE / REFUSAL

New patients should submit a New Patient Registration Form/Health Questionnaire. The Practice will accept patients onto its list whilst it remains “Open”. If the list is closed, the Practice will only accept registrations of immediate family members of patients who are already registered and only if such relatives reside permanently at the registered patient’s address. Proof of residence may be required however there is no contractual obligation to request this.

Patients will not be unreasonably refused registration, and “unreasonable” includes refusal based on:

Medical condition

Race

Gender or sexual orientation

Disability

Age

Religious group or religious beliefs

Political beliefs

Appearance or lifestyle

The Practice will however refuse registration if:

The list is officially “Closed” (see above)

The patient resides out of the publicised Practice area, this is because of practical and clinical needs of our in area patients

The Practice will normally refuse registration (subject to a Partners’ discussion and agreement) if:

The patient has been previously removed from the list

The patient has a known history of violence

The reason for refusal will be in writing and recorded in a permanent record for that purpose. This excludes Temporary Residents, where no record is necessary.

The permanent record will consist of the original GMS1 registration form endorsed with the reason for refusal, together with a copy of the refusal letter, filed in Surname order. Where a GMS1 has not been completed, a “dummy” GMS1 will be prepared and filed.

The record is subject to inspection by the PCO who may require the Practice to justify a refusal to register.

The practice is required by the Government under the terms of the latest GP contract to allocate all patients a named accountable GP.

Individual patients will be informed of their named accountable GP at the first appropriate interaction with the practice.

For convenience if you have a medical card your accountable GP will be the named doctor you are registered with. Patients registering over the last 2-3 years will not have received a medical card as these are no longer routinely sent when registering with a new GP.

However, the practice does keep a record of your registered (accountable) GP. If you wish to be told the name of your accountable GP, please ask the receptionists when you are next in the surgery.

Please note: there is no need to telephone the practice for this information.

Your named GP will not be available at all times and if your needs are urgent, you may need to discuss them with an alternative doctor.